Anti-Imperialist Territorial Nuclei (NTA)

Description

Clandestine leftist extremist group that first appeared in the Friuli region in Italy
in 1995. Adopted the class-struggle ideology of the Red Brigades of the 1970s
and 1980s and a similar logo—an encircled five-point star—for their
declarations. Seeks the formation of an “anti-imperialist fighting front” with
other Italian leftist terrorist groups including Revolutionary Proletarian Initiative
Nuclei and the New Red Brigades. Opposes what it perceives as US and
NATO imperialism and condemns Italy’s foreign and labor polices. Identified
experts in four Italian Government sectors—federalism, privatizations, justice
reform, and jobs and pensions—as potential targets in a leaflet dated January
2002.

Activities

To date, the group has conducted attacks against property rather than
persons. This pattern continued in 2003 when NTA claimed responsibility for
the arson attacks against three vehicles belonging to US troops serving at the
Ederle and Aviano bases in Italy. In January 2002, police thwarted an attempt
by four NTA members to enter the Rivolto Military Air Base. It claimed
responsibility for a bomb attack in September 2000 against the Central
European Initiative office in Trieste and a bomb attack in August 2001 against
the Venice Tribunal building. During the NATO intervention in Kosovo, NTA
members threw gasoline bombs at the Venice and Rome headquarters of the
then-ruling party, Democrats of the Left.

Strength

Approximately 20 members. In 2003, no NTA members were arrested and
prosecuted.